This invention relates generally to the handling of refuse and more particularly to refuse handling apparatus which is suitable for use with a vehicle.

Refuse handling vehicles are known and may include a refuse receiving receptacle mounted on the back of a truck. Usually a compactor is provided for compacting the material within the receptacle. These compactors can take various forms. The compacted material is adapted to be discharged from the vehicle when the receptacle is full. Usually these vehicles are quite large and therefore cannot be used in all areas where refuse needs to be collected. As a result of this it is often necessary to manually collect the refuse in these inaccessible areas and transfer it to the refuse collecting vehicle wherein it is subsequently compacted. It will be appreciated that this is an inefficient and time consuming operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide improvements to refuse handling apparatus which is suitable for use with a vehicle which can be smaller than those normally used at present.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a refuse handling assembly for use with a vehicle, the vehicle including a forward end and a rear end, the refuse handling assembly including: a receptacle for receiving refuse the receptacle including a delivery inlet opening at the forward end of the receptacle and a discharge outlet opening at the rearward end of the receptacle, said receptacle being operatively mounted to the vehicle for pivotal movement about a pivot mounting at or near the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement between a lowered position and a tilted position and a compactor at the delivery inlet opening having a sweep blade which has its pivot axis laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

According to yet another aspect of present invention there is provided a refuse handling assembly for use with a vehicle, the vehicle including a forward end and a rear end,

the refuse handling assembly including: a receptacle for receiving refuse the receptacle including a delivery inlet opening at the forward end of the receptacle and a discharge outlet opening at the rearward end of the receptacle, said receptacle being operatively mounted to the vehicle for pivotal movement about a pivot mounting at or near the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement between a lowered position and a tilted position wherein said discharge outlet opening extends between the pivot mounting and a top wall of the receptacle and opening is in a plane which is inclined forwardly and upwardly from the pivot mounting.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a refuse handling assembly for use with a vehicle, the vehicle including a forward end and a rear end, the refuse handling assembly including: a receptacle for receiving refuse the receptacle including a delivery inlet opening at the forward end of the receptacle and a discharge outlet opening at the rearward end of the receptacle, said receptacle being operatively mounted to the vehicle for pivotal movement about a pivot mounting at or near the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement between a lowered position and a tilted position wherein said receptacle includes a bottom wall having a first section which is adjacent a base section of a chassis of the vehicle when the receptacle is in the lowered position and a second section which is inclined upwardly from the first section and terminates at or in the region of the discharge outlet opening.

Preferably the free end portion of the mounting section of the support frame is disposed rearwardly of the rear end of the base section of the vehicle chassis. Thus the pivot mounting can be the rearmost part of the apparatus and vehicle, when the apparatus is mounted on the vehicle.

In one preferred form the receptacle includes a bottom internal wall having a first section which is adjacent the base section of the chassis when the receptacle is in the lowered position and a second section which is inclined upwardly from the first section and terminates at or in the region of the discharge outlet opening. The receptacle may further include a top wall side walls and front and rear end walls. Preferably the discharge outlet opening is between the rear end

wall and the top wall with its peripheral edge being inclined between the end wall and top wall. Preferably the discharge outlet opening extends between the pivot mounting and a top wall of the receptacle in a plane which is inclined upwardly and forwardly from the pivot mounting.

The apparatus may further include a compactor which is disposed at the delivery inlet opening In one preferred form, the compactor includes a base wall, an open top for receiving the refuse and a sweep blade mounted for pivotal movement so as to sweep across the base so as to push refuse through the inlet opening.

Preferably, the pivot mounting, which may be in the form of a post to which the sweep blade is mounted and the base wall of the compactor are inclined so that material is fed upwardly into the compactor. The base wall may extend into the receptacle and terminate at a step within the receptacle which steps down from the free edge of the base wall of the compactor to the bottom wall of the receptacle. Preferably, the inclined base wall and section of the bottom wall are inclined at approximately the same angle.

Preferably the apparatus further includes a closure assembly for the discharge outlet opening the closure assembly including a door which is movable between a closed position in which it abuts against an abutment at the periphery of the discharge outlet opening and an open position, the closure further including a control arm operatively connected to the door and mounted for pivotal movement and limited linear movement so as to move the door between its open and closed positions.

The arrangement is such that when the door is to be moved between its closed position to its open position the control arm is first caused to move in the limited linear fashion so that the door is moved to a displaced position in which is clear of the abutment and thereafter the control arm is caused to move in the pivotal fashion to move the door into its open position.

When the door is to be moved from its open position to its closed position the control arm first moves in the pivotal fashion until the door is in the displaced position and thereafter the arm is caused to move in the linear manner so that the door is caused to abut against the

abutment. In one form of the invention, the peripheral edge surrounding the discharge outlet opening includes an upstanding extending rib at least partially therearound. In the closed position the door is adapted to sit within the confines of this rib. This arrangement provides an additional seal and also a locking arrangement for the door. Preferably mounting means for the control arm includes a pin which is receivable within a slot for causing the pivotal movement and limited linear of the arm by movement of the pin relative to the slot. A stabiliser arm may be provided which extends between the pivot arm and the closure. The limited linear movement enables the door to be displaced linearly so as to clear the peripheral ribs before the door swings to the open position.

The closure assembly may form a separate and distinct invention.

Thus according to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure assembly suitable for use with a refuse handling apparatus which includes a discharge outlet opening the closure assembly including a door moveable between a closed position in which it abuts against an abutment at the periphery of the discharge outlet opening and an open position, the closure assembly further including a control arm operatively connected to the door and mounted for pivotal movement and limited linear movement so as to move the door between its open and closed positions.

The arrangement is such that when the door is to be moved between its closed position to its open position the control arm is first caused to move in the limited linear fashion so that the door is moved to a displaced position in which is clear of the abutment and thereafter the control arm is caused to move in the pivotal fashion to move the door into its open position. When the door is to be moved from its open position to its closed position the control arm first moves in the pivotal fashion until the door is in the displaced position and thereafter the arm is caused to move in the linear manner so that the door is caused to abut against the abutment.

In one form of the invention when in the closed position the door is adapted to sit within the confines of a peripheral rib at least partially surrounding the opening. Preferably mounting means for the control arm includes a pin which is receivable within a slot for causing the pivotal

movement and limited linear movement of the arm by movement of the pin relative to the slot, the limited linear movement enabling the door to be displaced linearly so as to clear the peripheral rib before the door swings to the open position.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the assembly in any of the aspects described above may further include a hinged panel in a wall of the receptacle adjacent the closure assembly and operable so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position the panel being held in the closed position when the closure assembly is closed and movable to the open position when the closure assembly is opened.

Preferably, the panel is hinged at one end remote from the closure assembly with its free end adjacent the closure assembly. Preferably, the panel is in the top wall of the receptacle and is retained in the closed position by the door of the closure assembly when in its closed position.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a compactor for refuse handling apparatus having a sweep blade which has its pivot axis laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

By offsetting the pivot axis this allows for a greater swept volume to be generated. The offset can be to either side to accommodate left or right hand loading. Without this offset, the unit is less effective as a refuse collector.

The sweep blade preferably includes a curved face panel which pivots about a centre pivot shaft oscillating forwards and backward in a generally horizontal plane. In its forward motion the panel sweeps clean the area of the hopper and propels under hydraulic pressure the refuse contained in the hopper into the body proper. The panel preferably projects into the body at the extremity of its forward most travel. As the panel retracts, any refuse sitting on top of the panel drops down into the hopper. Refuse is prevented from passing under the rear most edge of the hopper by a sweeper panel which is a close fit into the top of the packer panel. The refuse is carried into the body during the subsequent forward packing stroke of the panel.

The panel is preferably driven by a hydraulic cylinder, the cylinder being mounted with the base end contained in a bracket fixed to the rear periphery of the hopper bowl. The rod end of the cylinder is preferably fixed to the rear of the packer panel.

Preferably, the assembly includes a forward mounted, side loading receiving hopper with the compactor mechanism having a blade which has its pivot axis laterally offset with respect to the central longitudinal axis of receptacle. The base wall of the hopper may be inclined downwards at the front end and the pivot shaft is inclined forward at its top end to allow the blade to move in a parallel plane to the inclined floor.

There is a preferably step or rise situated on the base plate at the point where the base plate angle becomes parallel with the chassis to prevent the material sliding back down to the hopper area. At the end of the parallel base plate at a point below the forward projection of the roof hatch or cover the base plate rises at an angle to meet the rearward point of the closure of the roof hatch or cover.

At the rear end of the receptacle a lifting and pivoting rear cover or hatch is positioned over the aperture which when opening moves in a upward or forward motion to allow either discharge of the compacted material on opening of the aperture during the normal frontal loading procedure without spillage of material already contained within the receptacle. This forward motion of the rear hatch / cover allows a controlled discharge of material from the receptacle without impedance.

Preferred embodiments of the invention drawings will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in those drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a vehicle with the refuse handling assembly according to one preferred embodiment of the invention mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the refuse handling assembly as shown in Figure

1 in a tilted position;

Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of a further embodiment of refuse handling assembly according to the invention; and

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a refuse handling assembly generally indicated at 10 mounted on a vehicle 100 the vehicle having a chassis 110 which includes a base section 115 housing a forward end 116 which supports a vehicle cabin 118 and rear end 119.

The refuse handling assembly includes 10 a receptacle 20 which is carried on the receptacle support frame 12 having first and second sections 13 and 14. The first section 13 of the support frame 12 is adapted to be mounted to the vehicle chassis 110. The second section 14 of the support frame 12 is inclined upwardly relative to the first section 13 so that its free end is disposed rearwardly and upwardly relative to the vehicle chassis 110.

The receptacle 20 for receiving refuse includes a top wall, side walls end walls and a bottom wall with a delivery inlet opening 21 at the forward end of the receptacle and a discharge outlet opening 22 at the rearward end of the receptacle. The receptacle 20 is pivotally mounted to the support frame 14 at pivotal mounting 16 so as to be pivotable between a lowered position as shown in Figure 1 and a tilted position as shown in Figure 2.

A compactor 25 is disposed at the delivery inlet opening 21. The compactor includes a sweep blade 47 having a curved front face 48 shown in phantom in Figure 4 which is mounted for pivotal movement about pin 29 which as shown is inclined so that the sweep blade pushes the refuse inwardly and upwardly. The compactor is opened at its top side so that refuse can be dumped within the compactor and forced into the receptacle by operation of the compacting paddle. The compactor has a base wall 26 which is also inclined relative to bottom wall section 27 of the receptacle 20. The base wall 26 extends into the receptacle and terminates at a step 23. This arrangement tends to inhibit refuse material being dragged along the bottom wall section 27 when it is being fed into the receptacle on returning towards the opening.

The receptacle 20 further includes a bottom wall section 28 which extends upwardly from bottom wall section 27 and terminates at discharge outlet opening 22

The assembly further includes a closure assembly 30 comprising a door 31 and a control arm 32 operatively connected to the receptacle via coupling section 35 A stabiliser arm 33 is also provided.

The coupling section 35 includes a pin 37 which is receivable in a slot 36 formed in the mounting arm 32 so that the closure is capable of pivotal movement about pin 37 and limited linear movement along slot 36. In the closed position the door 31 is seated behind a rib 38 which extends at least across the top of the opening. This ensures that a relatively good seal is provided between the door and the opening 22 when closed When the door is moved into its open position it needs to firstly move linearly by relative movement between the pin and slot so that it clears the stop 38 and thereafter it can be pivoted around to the position shown in Figure 2. An actuator which may be in the form of an hydraulic piston cylinder assembly 39 is provided for moving the closure door A further hydraulic piston cylinder assembly causes movement of the receptacle between its tilt and lowered positions

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the assembly is generally the same as that described in Figures 1 and 2 except that there is provided a hinged panel 40 pivotally mounted by hinges 41 and 42 in the top wall of receptacle 20. The hinged panel is held in its closed position by the door which closes opening 22 (not shown) and swings open when the door is moved into its open position and the receptacle is tilted

As best seen in Figure 4, the pivot axis of sweep blade 47 about pin 29 of the compactor

25 is laterally offset along axis Y-Y to the central axis X-X of the assembly.

The apparatus of the present invention has several advantages For example the inclined section of the internal wall causes material to be directed towards the discharge outlet Furthermore, the position of the pivotal mounting of the receptacle enables the material to be discharged directly into the rear of a larger truck or storage bin

The arrangement of the pivot mounting being in essence the most further rear part of both the apparatus and vehicle ensures that the apparatus can be positioned adjacent the larger truck or storage bin without any interference. The position of the control arm in pivot mounting ensures that the door will remain relatively low profile in its raised position. The linear/pivotal movement ensures a good seal and lock when in the closed position.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.